Rail joint



March 24, 1931. SPERANZA RAIL JOINT Filed May 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W0 BY my ATTORNEY m. m w W w 7 Z W .Mrch 24, 1931. F. SPERANZA 1,798,004

RAIL JOINT Filed May 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTTTTT EV Patented hlar. 2 1931 RAIL JOINT Application filed May 17, 1930. Serial N0. 453,289.

This invention relates to rail fasteners and more particularly to a rail joint and has for its primary object, tie provision of a device of the above stated character, whereby the adjacent ends of railroad rails may be easily and quickly connected and which will provide a smooth joint and thereby obviate undue vibration and wear to the railway cars passing thereover and also obviate any possibility of the rails separating and thereby prevent derailment of cars due to such causes.

another object of this invention is the provision of means to prevent creeping of the rails relative to each other and the tie on which they rest.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a rail joint of the above stated character which will be simple, durable and efiicient. and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

\Vith these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my in vention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a rail joint constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view illustrating the joint with the tie plate removed.

Figure alis a top plan view illustrating a modified form of joint.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one end of the rail.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the end of a companion rail of the joint.

Figure 8 is a top plan view illustrating the tie plate.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

tongues 3 whichex'tend the full height of the 2 Referring =in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the adjacent ends of railroad =ra1ls supported in the usual manner by a tie 2 and having formed on their ends rails and have formed integrally therewith .nbstantially rectangular shaped shoulders 4; to be received within oorrespondingshaped grooves 5 formed in the ends of a connecting member 6 which is of substantially the same shape as "the rails 1. The grooves 5 open outwardly through the ends and .top of the connecting member 6 so that the tongues 3 may be-easily inserted into-the grooves 5 and whenpositionedtherein will prevent therails from separating. The tongues 8and shoulders i arer fiush with'the tread surfaceof-the member '6 and also :the rails 1 to provide a smooth coupling or connection between the adjacent ends of :the rails and consequently obviating undue vibration and wear to the carspassingover the joints. 'l he grooves 5 are'enlarged as shown-at V to form angularly related walls or shoulders to conform to the contour of the shoulders 4 of the tongues 3.

A plate 8 is positioned on the tie 2 and has downwardly depending flanges 9 to engage opposite sides of the tie and is provided with notches 10 in the side edges to receive the usual spikes 11, the heads of which overlie the bases of the rails 1 and connecting memher 6.

Upstanding lugs or projections 12 are formed on the plate 8 and extend into sockets 13 formedin the bases of the rails 1 coopcrating with the member 6 in preventing endwise displacement or creeping of the rails 1 relative to each other. The lugs 12 may be tapered as shownin Figure 9 and the sockets 13 correspondingly shaped to facilitate the easy insertion of the lugs within the sockets.

Referring to my modified form of invention, the member 6 is omitted and one of the rails is provided with a groove 5 of the same shape as the groove in the connecting member :95 6 and the other rail has formed upon its ends a tongue 3 having a shoulder l to be received within the groove 5 of the companion rail and when assembled thus, the rails will be prevented from separation. It will be noted l that it is very easy to assemble the rails as the rail carrying the tongue 3 is lifted so as to position the tongue over the groove 5 and allowed to move downwardly therein and the shoulder 10 engaging the rectangular walls 7 of the groove prevents separation of the rails. With this construction the necessity of connecting the adjacent ends of rails with plates and bolts in the ordinary manner is entirely obviated and spikes having the heads in engagement with the bases of the rails prevent the rails from moving upwardly relative to each other and consequently prevent any danger of the rails from becoming separated by such a movement.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may he made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: r

A rail joint including companion rails, tongues formed on the ends of the rails and having angularly related faces, a connecting member having grooves with angularly related walls to receive the tongues to secure the adjacent ends of the rails together, a plate underlying the adjacent ends of the rails and the connecting member and having notches to receive tie securing spikes with the heads thereof engaging the rails and connecting 1 member, and securing means between the rails and plate.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

FERMINIO SPERANZA. 

